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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday lambasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “ethnic cleansing” video as an “unacceptable and outrageous” portrayal of people who oppose Israeli settlements in the West Bank, home to more than 2.7 million Palestinians.

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Former Israeli President Shimon Peres remains sedated and on a respirator two days after suffering a massive stroke, his office said. Peres’ status “remains unchanged,” a statement issued Thursday by his spokesperson said. “He is being closely monitored by his doctors, and continues to receive treatment as previously set forth,” the statement…

MONTREAL (JTA) — Quebec securities officials are investigating possible connections between a Montreal Chabad group and an alleged money laundering scam involving the ex-CEO of Amaya Inc., the world’s largest publicly traded online gambling company. David Baazov, ,35, faces charges filed in March that he tried to influence the Amaya stock price by using privileged…

ROME (JTA) – A former Italian soccer player known for his pro-fascist views has been suspended as a TV commentator after displaying a tattoo on air referring to Italy’s fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. The satellite channel Sky Sports Italia suspended Paolo Di Canio after he appeared on camera while reporting on a match Sunday wearing a…

A Jewish man in Florida has been arrested for the alleged arson of the mosque attended by Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen. Joseph Michael Schreiber, 32,was arrested on Wednesday. A large fire engulfed the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce early Monday morning, occurring on the Muslim holy days of Eid al-Adha, or the…

NEW YORK (JTA) — Rachel “Ruchie” Freier of Brooklyn was elected a Civil Court judge in New York state, reportedly a first for a Hasidic woman in the state. Freier won Tuesday’s vote in Kings County’s 5th judicial district, which encompasses the Brooklyn communities of Kensington, Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace, among others, according to Patch. Patch…

(JTA) — A large majority of American and Israeli Jews say Israel should recognize marriages and conversions performed by Reform and Conservative rabbis. A poll conducted by The Jerusalem Post and the American Jewish Committee found that 74 percent of American Jews and 62 percent of Israeli Jews believe the non-Orthodox rites should be recognized. The findings…

(JTA) — Anti-Semitic incidents in France have decreased by 64 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to a year ago, according to a French official who credited his government’s policing around Jewish institutions. Gilles Clavreul, France’s interministerial delegate for the fight against racism and anti-Semitism, said this week that the drop began in June…

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The world’s oldest man, 113-year-old Yisrael Kristal, a Holocaust survivor living in Israel, will celebrate his bar mitzvah. Kristal’s daughter, Shulimath Kristal Kuperstoch, told the DPA news agency that about 100 family members will gather in Kristal’s home city of Haifa in the coming weeks to mark the rite. “We will bless…